MARRIED BY ACCIDENT

Chapter 15

Katherine

I took a deep sigh as Axel parked the car beside the large house of the Harret family. It's been ten years since the last time I set my feet in their house. And I will never ever forget that day. My chest suddenly tightened because I remembered my real mother. My mother who did nothing but love and served her worthless husband. My mom's love for Alberto was wasted as he only repaid it with betrayal.

I took another deep breath to ease the tightness in my chest. If it weren't for my grandmother, I would never have come back to this house. But I promise that this will be the last time I set foot in the Harret family's house. Today, I will officially cut any connection I have with their family. I don't want to be a part of their shameless family.

I glanced at Axel when he suddenly held one of my hands and gently squeezed it.

"Are you okay? Are you nervous because you’re going to introduce me to your family?" he asked me.

I quickly shook my head at him. "First, they are not my family. Ever since Alberto kicked us out of their house ten years ago, that was also the end of us being a family. Second, I didn’t come here to introduce you to them but to finally cut off any relationship I have with them. And lastly, I came here because this is the last time I will attend my grandmother’s death anniversary," I explained at length to Axel.

Axel gave me a slight smile and nodded. "Whatever you do, I will respect and support your decision."

I gave him a faint smile before I got out of the car first. Axel immediately got out of the car as well and we walked hand in hand into the house.

When we entered the house, we found the entire Harret family already seated at the long table, and of course, my stepsister Lucy and Alberto's mistress Cynthia, who is now his legal wife, were there.

"Is that you, Katherine? You've grown so much. And you're so beautiful," exclaimed Alberto's sister Amanda when she saw me.

I ignored what Amanda said. I remember that she never liked my mom for her brother. And she was one of those who were happy when Alberto kicked us out of the Harret family house.

"Are you done offering prayers for grandma and all of you are already sitting in front of the food?" I asked them. Before at this time, they would still be praying for grandma. But now, they are already eating.

"Huh! Is that how your mother raised you, Katherine? You don't know how to respect your elders anymore! How did Criselda raise you?" my father Alberto angrily scolded me, who is now the head of the Harret family.

"Don't mention my mom, Mr. Harret! You have no right to even mention my mom's name!" I answered him firmly. He has the nerve to lecture my mother on how she raised me when he, my own father, didn't even raise me himself.

"How dare you talk back at me, Katherine!" Alberto's face suddenly turned red with anger because I talked back t him.

"Just relax, Dad. Katherine didn't mean to talk back at you." Lucy gently rubbed Alberto's back. It was as if she was his real daughter and not me.

I just sneered at what Lucy did. She wants to show me that she's closer to my father than I am. She probably thinks I'll be hurt because of that.

"Your sister said you already got married, Katherine. Why don't you introduce him to us? What well-known family does he come from? What is his job?" Cynthia asked me with bad intentions. Obviously, she wants to humiliate me and my husband. She looks down on us.

"You don't deserve to know my husband's name, Cynthia. And for your information, I don't have a sister. I'm my mom's only daughter," I replied to her with a raised eyebrow.

"What are you so proud of, Katherine? Your husband is just a mere car mechanic, isn't he?" interrupted Monika, my cousin and Amanda's daughter, with a sneer.

"So what if my husband is just a car mechanic? At least I’m not a mistress. I didn’t destroy any family," I quickly replied to Monika and threw a mocking smile at Cynthia, whose face suddenly turned red with a mix of anger and embarrassment. So Alberto’s mistress actually knows how to feel ashamed?

While I was exchanging harsh words with the Harret family, Axel remained silent by my side. But I knew he was just holding himself back from speaking up because I could feel his grip tightening on my hand. If he saw that I was being treated unfairly, he definitely wouldn’t hesitate to defend me.

"Enough!!!" Alberto suddenly slammed his hand hard on the table. The people in front of him almost jumped in their seats. It was obvious they were afraid of him. "Not only did you bring shame to this family by marrying a poor man but now you also refuse to respect your mother, Katherine!"

"When you brought your mistress and her child into our house, did you ever think about the shame you would bring to your wife and child, Albert?" I laughed mockingly. "It's shameful to hear that coming from your mouth. And I have only one mother. She is already six feet under the ground. She died when you threw us out of this house," I added, my voice full of anger and reproach.

“C-Criselda is d-dead?” Alberto’s eyes widened. He didn’t expect to hear from me that my mother was gone.

“You heard right, Alberto. My mom is dead. And it’s all thanks to you,” I replied to him bitterly. I wanted to cry but I held it back. If they saw me crying, they would think I was weak and that they could easily bully me just like before.

Alberto’s expression changed and sadness suddenly clouded his face. But no matter how sad he looked at me, it wouldn’t lessen the anger I felt toward him. His sadness couldn’t bring my mom back to life. If only I hadn't promised my mom not take revenge on them, I already bring them down long ago.

"Now that you're alone, you can come back to this house, Katherine. But on one condition. You will divorce that man. I will introduce you to some capable men from wealthy families," said Alberto. He probably thinks that I came here to return to his family.

"I'm not going back to this hell, Alberto. I'm here to attend my grandmother's death anniversary for the last time," I replied to him with my head held high.

"Why are you being so proud, Katherine? You should be thankful that Daddy is still accepting you despite that you married a poor man," Lucy said to me irritably.

"No, thanks. Your dad is all yours." I turned my back on them and pulled Axel toward the altar where the jar containing my grandmother's ashes was placed. I lit a candle and offered a prayer for her soul. Axel also did what I did. He also lit a candle and offered a prayer for my grandmother. It was just a simple action but I really appreciate it.

"Let's go home. I've already done what I wanted to do so there's no reason for us to stay in this house any longer," I said to Axel and pulled him out of the house.

"Katherine, stop!" Before we could get out the door, I heard Alberto's loud voice. "If you walk out that door, you will never be able to come back to this house ever again. And I will no longer recognize you as my daughter!"

I stopped walking and turned to him. "I didn't come here for you to recognize me as your daughter, Alberto. For me, you're already dead when my mother died. As I said, I'm here because it's my grandmother's death anniversary. Ahh. I almost forgot another reason why I came here so I will announce it now. Starting today, I will cut ties with your family. And I'm not your daughter. I can't afford to have a father like you."